i want to be a vegitarian but it's very hard, any tips on how to make it easier?

Question

in todays society fast food consists of meat and my goal is to become a vegitarian, i dont disapprove of people eattin meat but i just dont think for myself thats it's right. so how do i get started and how do i keep it goin because everytime i try, i end up giving in to my temptations..

Answer 1

So here we are all wondering how to fix the country and get it back on track. We all want more or less the same simple things.

1. Our freedoms, all of them not just those currently popular.

2. A fair shake, equal access to employment, justice and education. This means NO racism as policy, hate crime laws, affirmative action, etc.

3. To pay for our own stuff and nothing more. We generally feel our tax dollars should only be spent on things we ALL use such as roads, infastructure, etc. When we are kinda broke we don't care about art or other peoples hungry kids.

4. Limited government. We only need people doing important jobs. Everyone else can get a real job like us.

So how do we make the above, or your own variation of the above, a reality?

The Libertarian Party most closely resembles the above platform but they haven't won a election since.....well uh...they haven't won a election except on local levels where it don't make much of a difference. And if too many people vote Libertarian the worst of the other two may win.

The Democratic Party professes to be for the common man. Problem with them is they defend the first amendment for some and not others. Gay Photos for the NEA, sure. A progun exhibit, no way. Also they tend to run way too Socialist/Communist these days. Democrats equal huge taxes. You may be a single male, but you will be paying for a single teen mother day care center when they are in charge.

Bottom line is the Democartic Party has way too many problems to bring around. Even if we could get a Pro Gun Democratic Party there would still be too much working against us. It is mostly a lost cause.

The Republican Party says most of the things we want to hear. But just like the Democrats, they really couldn't give a crap about the little guy. They claim to want to scale back govvernment but ain't done it yet. BUT, they are less of a threat to our freedoms.

So what makes ordinary people fear Republicans and become Democrats? Mostly it is perception. The Democrats have done a good job portraying themselves as free and less repressive. Most people, especially the young, are tired of having things like sexuality repressed. This is why Liberals cheered Clintons scandal without considering the ramifications.

How can the Republicans win? First they need to stop trying to legislate morality. That is the job of parents, not laws. And more importantly you cannot make a bad person good with laws. No matter what law you pass, some 14 year old will get pregnant and go on Jerry Springer to brag about it.

They need to take religion out of the Republican platform. This creates more Democrats than probably any other factor. I don't mean we need to pry the ten commandments off of 100 year old government monuments, but we don't need Pat Robertson running for President or Jerry Falwell speaking at the conventions. Freedom of religion is a protected part of the first amendment but should not be official government policy. The faithful will still vote Republican and the Republicans will still protect their rights to believe as they choose. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, non Christians will feel comfortable voting Republican.

Those who are just like us are already Republican. What we need to do is what the Democrats did. Make the party more inviting to non Republicans. Then with a strong control of government and broader representation, we just might save this country.

Anymore questiosn Ask Me

Answer 2

I'm sorry, But I really don't find it all that hard. Pack your own lunches, quit eating fast food. when you go to restaurants ask the server what is in things. I'm a Vegan and I still have no problem. when I was a vegetarian I hardly noticed.

When you have good reasons for not eating meat, AR reasons tend to be the strongest for most people, it becomes pretty easy not to give in to temptation. Learn more about what go's into meat production. The more you learn the less you'll want to eat it.

Answer 3

There are a number of good answers here but I would like to highlight a few things about being vegetarian.
1) Becoming a vegetarian means cutting down on your usual dose of protein which can be compensated through beans and wheat etc. However teh damage to your artries will be no different than than the meat protein so try to consume less protein, I would suggest thrive for a balance diet. One can find guidelines in NRC requirements booklet.
2) SOme vitamins like B6 becomes a concern when you go off meat diets and moce toward vegetables, so make sure you get enough of it but not over dose yourself.
Good luck

Answer 4

There are so many substitutes for meat now that you could still enjoy things like bbq's and just about any meal you can think of,quorn is really popular and you can buy all kinds of burgers and sausages made from it,they do various chicken style products too. You can buy things like quorn roast if you don't really like the idea of a nut roast,its worth having a look at what meat alternatives are available so you can see how you could make the changes.

Answer 5

I understand where you are coming from, it was also very hard for me. But I found that meatless products like Boca and Morning Star are very helpful. They have "chicken" nuggets, burgers, "chicken" patties and fingers, ground "meat" you can use for like tacos and chili, sausages, and Boca has a vegetarian lasagna, but I didnt like it that much. That stuff was very helpful during the transition and I still eat it once in awhile.

The fast food thing, even though fast food is completly horrible for you, was still sort of hard for me also. I did however discover yesterday that believe it or not Burger King has a veggie burger, it was sort of strange eatting it but it was actually pretty good! Going to restruants can also be very hard, I usually have to read over the menu before I leave to see what I could possibly have becuase you'll be lucky if there is at least 1 thing that does not involve some sort of meat.

Good luck!

Answer 6

it is hard with today's society. but if you look beyond that it's easier then you think!
first off, if you eat meat alot i say avoid fast food reasturants or all reastraunts period. cook your own meals (if you still live with your parents tell them your situation). the first source link has great recipies.
second, if you don't eat much meat anyway then this will be easier. if you have to eat at mcdonald's they do have salads and of course fries! windy's has salads and bake potaotes. i've heard that burgur king now serves vegie burgers. try one! non-fast food places normally have vegetarain foods, if your not sure you can just get a vegie plate (pick about 4 vegie side orders on one plate).

also, make sure you get enough protien (peanutbutter, nuts, seeds, soy, tofu,beans, etc)
and vitmen b12. i'm going to start taking some vitem suplements.

good luck!

Answer 7

i think you should do it slowly, eliminating one meat at a time. also, try and find tasty, meat-free foods that you really enjoy eating and every time you want some meat, get some of that food instead. peta has some very sad, disturbing videos of animals being slaughtered for their meat, they actually convinced my sister to give up all meat except chicken. www.goveg.com has good tips for new vegetarians, as well as recipies and videos and a free vegetarian starter kit. don't give up! i have been a vegetarian for over 11 years and i will never eat meat again. it was the best decision of my life and i hope it goes well for you too. =)

Answer 8

Well, first thing, dont' beat yourself up for eating some meat from time to time. It doesn't make you any less of a person, you know!! I know many ppl who are practically vegetarian, but do like a bit of chicken or fish when they eat out now and then. It's alright!

But for eating at home, invest in a crockpot (cheap) and a pressure cooker (little more costly). Both of these will allow you to cook beans and peas by planning ahead (crockpot) or on a whim (pressure cooker).

A rice cooker would also come in handy. I think you can use them for cous cous, too.

Answer 9

Instead of trying to cut things out of your diet, try adding new things you will enjoy. Edamame are soybeans sold frozen in the store. They have tons of protien and fiber and taste great as a snack or on salads. Don't forget you will need to add extra protien to your diet to make up for the meat you're no longer eating. Don't feel bad for giving into temptation. Every new diet takes time to get used to.

Answer 10

I was a vegetarian for four years, and tempation got the best of me too! Its ok. I am planning on taking on that lifestyle again. My problem was finding alternatives that tasted just as good as beef, and chicken and pork. If you find something you love and enjoy you won't think about cow as often lol. Also educating yourself about the abuse towards these animals will change your whole perspective. It is ok to feel tempted, it happens to the best of us. If you one day really crave a hamburger go for it, it will not kill you. Hahah now try becoming a vegan, thats hard!

Answer 11

Often the easiest answer we like to give a person who wants to stop doing something is simply to stop. That is a ridiculous and somewhat pompous assumption. Whether you are smoking, drinking or eating meat, you are up against an addiction, and quitting can be a very difficult process. Unlike other addictions however, meat products have been shoved in our bodies since birth, are easily accessible everywhere we turn, and offered to us as the obvious, easy and necessary way to live.

Becoming a vegetarian is generally a moral or ethical decision. A vegetarian lifestyle (just as a meat-eating lifestyle) is healthy or unhealthy depending on the decisions you make. Despite what some in our culture still believe, you can get everything you need as a vegetarian.

I am not sure how old you are, but the best way to begin a vegetarian life you can maintain is to get your own apartment. Just as it would be nearly impossible for an alcoholic to quit drinking while hanging out in a bar every day, it will be very difficult to stop eating meat in a home where it is constantly being served. In you own place you can do your own shopping and decide what food is served. As you become more secure in your diet and your body and mind quit craving that which they are missing, you can be in more meat situations.

Another great thing you can do for yourself is to learn how to cook quick and simple meals. When you eat good food you do not feel as though you are missing out. Often vegetarians look for vegetarian cookbooks. I use regular cookbooks and substitute the meat. Morning Star Farms has great vegan chicken and beef substitutes, and Ives has great vegan ground beef and lunchmeat substitutes. I personally love tofu. It is great for making Chinese food. Know which restaurants have good vegetarian substitutes for when you want to go out to eat.

When you are trying to quit, the first time in a day you give in to your addiction in sets the mood for the rest of the day. If you break down and eat sausage in the morning, you will probably break down at lunch and dinner too. Keep substituting and try to make your first meat later and later in the day until you can go an entire day. Also, when we crave meat, we often crave the fat and grease. A great fix is to cook a dish heavy in olive oil; you will get the fat you crave (but please don’t make a habit of it.)

Also, read some great literature and get a support system. One of the hardest (or most annoying) things you will deal with as a vegetarian is how meat-eaters will treat you. Know that they are doing this because your choice is inadvertently “calling them” immoral or telling them they are leading a bad life. You are of course not doing this, but some will verbally attack you. They will not know why, but the truth is that your choice is threatening to them. When possible, try to keep these people out of your life and DO NOT get drawn into arguments with them. You cannot win. Their only goal is to prove you are a hypocrite and flawed. Because you are human, you are naturally both of these things, but these are people who desperately need to prove it so they may never see these attributes in themselves. Sorry to be a bummer, but you need to expect these conversations. "Living Among the Meat Eaters" is a very good book for dealing with this.

Finally, don’t expect to change your life all at once. Start by only cutting out meat (yes, sorry, but a fish is an animal). Feel proud of your accomplishment. If you reach a point when you are secure in this lifestyle try taking away eggs. Later you can try to take the leather, wool, angora etc. out of your wardrobe. When this works you may choose to stop eating foods with egg products or chemical names that are code words for meat. You do not have to stop eating/ wearing everything to conform to such a vegan lifestyle you no longer live in a house because houses are built upon concrete, which is made in part by animal bones…. So don’t allow anyone to make you feel inferior in your choices. You are on a path and trying to make decisions that will help you become the person you want to be, not a person anyone else feels you should be. All of life is a process. We will fail on occasion and we will make decisions different from what others will make. Be happy and secure in the things you accomplish and keep going. If you only cut meat out of your diet and never take another step, then you took a great and difficult step and should be proud.

After several years of being a vegetarian, I have adopted this one quick and simple answer for why I am a vegetarian: I don't need meat to survive or be healthy; therefore it is a luxury, and no one/thing should have to suffer so I can have a luxury. It tends to be sufficient enough for anyone who asks.